The franchise was resurrected in 2013 with Evil Dead, both a reboot and a loose continuation of the series directed by Fede Alvarez and produced by Raimi, Campbell and Tapert. It is rumored that there will be three other installments of the franchise that are considered: a sequel to the 2013 reboot currently entitled Evil Dead 2 but will not be directed by Alvarez,[1][2] a direct sequel to the original trilogy currently entitled Army of Darkness 2 rumored to be directed by Sam Raimi and starring Campbell,[3][4] and a seventh and final film which would merge the narratives of both chronologies.[5]

In July 2014, Bruce Campbell stated it was likely the planned sequel would instead be a TV series with him as the star. [6]Starz officially announced on November 10, 2014 that a ten-episode series titled Ash vs. Evil Dead would premiere on their cable network in 2015. The series will star Bruce Campbell as Ash and will be executive produced by Campbell, Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert.[7]

In January 1978 Bruce Campbell was a college dropout who had just quit his job as a taxicab driver. Sam Raimi was studying literature at Michigan State University with Robert Tapert finishing his economics degree. While putting the finishing touches on It's Murder! Tapert suggested doing a feature length film to Raimi. Raimi felt it to be impossible citing that they could never pull off the funding. Campbell did not mind stating that "I could always move back home." Tapert feared a career in fisheries/wildlife while Raimi was afraid that he would go back to work at his dad's home furnishing store. These were the practical reasons that convinced the three to put forth a feature length film.[8] The three were highly supportive fans of the comedy genre, though they decided not to do such a film as they felt "a feature-length yuck fest just didn't compute". To do the film as a horror was put forth after they were inspired by a well noted scene from It's Murder. This moved Raimi to write the short film Clockwork. The three felt the end result was very effective and represented a new direction that their films could take, that of a semi-successful horror film.[9]

This would later lead to research of low-budget horror films at the local drive-in theater. The many films that they watched were the "two films for two dollars", allowing them the chance to document the behavior of what would become their target audience. Campbell quoted, "the message was very clear: Keep the pace fast and furious, and once the horror starts, never let up. 'The gorier the merrier' became our prime directive." Films that were witnessed amongst them included Massacre at Central High and Revenge of the Cheerleaders. The idea to do a "prototype" was commissioned, to prove not only to themselves, but also to potential investors that they were capable of doing a full length horror film. The same year, at Michigan State, Raimi had been studying H. P. Lovecraft and was most impressed with Necronomicon, or simply The Book of the Dead. From these rough concepts, he concocted a short story where a group of four friends unwittingly dig up an Indian burial ground and unleash horrific spirits and demons.[10] In the spring of 1978, filming of Within the Woods started over a three-day weekend, on a budget of $1,600.[11]

Within the Woods, as well as serving as a prototype, had impressed the filmmakers. For a marketing strategy a screening was arranged at their former high school, with a positive response.[12]

Filming was first commissioned for the summer of 1979 in Michigan. In order to organize the budget, Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert and Bruce Campbell bought a few "how to make an independent film" guide publications. The budget was originally centered on $150,000 while shooting with a Super 8 camera. However, due to technical difficulties, it was decided to move it up to 16 mm format, as they wanted to film the project in the style of the many low-budget films at the time that had come out in the 1970s.[13] Since they had little experience in the film industry, the three felt they should buy business suits and briefcases as a means to convince investors that they "had all the answers." A man named Andy Grainger, who was a friend of Tapert and owner of a series of movie theaters, was the first primary investor. He stated, "Fellas, no matter what, just keep the blood running." As a tribute to him, there's a scene in the finished film where an old film projector whirs to life and "projects" blood running down the screen.[14]

Most importantly, Grainger provided the name of a distributor in New York City whom they could approach for possible distribution. The company was Levitt-Pickman Films, who most recently was famous for Groove Tube, starring a very young Chevy Chase. The filmmakers took a train at $40 each, as they knew none of their cars could make an entire round trip road trip. One of Campbell's old girlfriends named Andrea allowed them to stay at her apartment. Andrea's cat fell asleep on Raimi's face without even disturbing him, and Raimi, who is allergic to cats, had his eyes swollen shut.[14]

Released in 1987, this film is a sequel to the original continuing where the last film ended, (a recap of the previous film is shown in the beginning, though it is often confused as being an edited remake of the beginning of the first film) and shows the horrors of Ash's battling with the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis and demons.

Released in 1992, this is the third film in the franchise (and the last featuring Ash Williams taking a lead role so far), taking Ash back in time to England in 1300 AD. The movie has horror attributes, but is based mainly on slapstick and action. This time the evil creatures are explicitly referred to as deadites.

Evil Dead is the title of a film that serves as both a reboot and a continuation of the franchise. Unlike the first three films the movie does not feature the character of Ash Williams, instead following a new protagonist name Mia Allen. The film is considered a continuation of the franchise and plans to feature both Ash and Mia in future installments have been discussed.

At the premiere event for the 2013 film at SXSW, Alvarez announced that a sequel is in the works (but has backed out of writing and directing the film). Sam Raimi confirmed plans to write Evil Dead 4 with his brother; it was later specified that this film would be Army of Darkness 2.[15] At a WonderCon panel in March 2013, Campbell stated that their ultimate plan was for Evil Dead 2 and Raimi's Army of Darkness 2 to be followed by a crossover film which would merge the narratives of Ash and Mia.[5] Campbell had confirmed to reprised his Ash role in Army of Darkness 2.[16] On October 26, Alvarez confirmed on his Twitter that Sam Raimi will be directing Army of Darkness 2.[17] On October 30, 2013, co-writer Sayagues confirmed to Desdhollywood that he and Alvarez won't return for the sequel.[18][19][20] That same month, Alvarez took to his Twitter that the rumor is not true.[19][21] Contrary to popular rumors and even mentions by Campbell himself, Campbell has stated that he may not appear in Army of Darkness 2 by stating: "It's all Internet b.s. – there's no reality whatsoever. These random comments slip out of my mouth or Sam Raimi's mouth, next thing you know, we're making a sequel."[22][23]

In the documentary "The Untold Saga of The Evil Dead" Rob Tapert states that New Line had said they wanted to do Ash vs. Freddy vs. Jason: "We thought about it for one second but we knew we would have totally trashed the franchise in doing that, in that there would be no reason to reunite Bruce and Sam for Evil Dead 4 whatever that would be nor would there be any reason to go back and reinvent the original Evil Dead with a hot new filmmaker". A comic book series was produced based on this concept.

Awards Pictures, a company that attempted to begin a new line of movies in the series in 2004, announced plans in May 2012 to film an Evil Dead 4, one that has nothing to do with the original films. Because of this, Sam Raimi sued Awards Pictures in an attempt to stop them from making said film, due to his own plan to someday film one himself.[citation needed] In August 2012, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer entered a default judgment that “permanently enjoined” Awards Pictures from using the names Evil Dead, Evil Dead: Genesis of the Necronomicon, Evil Dead: Genesis of the Necronomicon, Part 2 or Evil Dead: Consequences “as or as part of the title of a motion picture, television program, video game, play, book or any other form of entertainment provided or to be provided through any media.”[25]

The Cabin in the Woods also features many references to the film and even features Deadites and the possessed trees although this is considered more a reference than a direct sequel.

Bruce Campbell directed and starred in a film titled My Name Is Bruce.[26] It does not continue the story of Army of Darkness but is a fictionalized portrayal of Bruce living his everyday life in which he is erroneously believed to be as heroic as the Ash character and is hired to fight an ancient spirit. The film was released to a limited number of theaters on October 26, 2008 and was released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on February 10, 2009.

It was revealed at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con that Sam Raimi was developing an Evil Dead television series. It is being written by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi, and Bruce Campbell with the plan for Campbell to star in the series. This was further confirmed by Bruce Campbell at Ohio Comic-Con 2014.[27][28] In 2015, an older Ash will appear as the main character in Ash vs. Evil Dead, a horror comedy series for Starz. This will continue Ash's story long after the film trilogy. Some snippets from an Entertainment Weekly interview with Bruce Campbell: "Ash has survivor’s guilt. You could have a heyday with his PTSD. He’s a war vet. He continues being a trash-talking know-it-all who doesn't really know anything.[29] He’s the ultimate anti-hero. He’s kind of an idiot, but man, if I had to go to battle, I’d want to be next to that guy, because he’ll bring it if he has to." Variety quotes executive producer Sam Raimi as saying “Evil Dead has always been a blast. Bruce, Rob, and I are thrilled to have the opportunity to tell the next chapter in Ash’s lame, but heroic saga. With his chainsaw arm and his ‘boomstick,’ Ash is back to kick some monster butt. And brother, this time there’s a truckload of it”. Sam Raimi will direct the first episode of the series and the show will be written by Sam Raimi, Ivan Raimi and Tom Spezialy. Original film series producer Rob Tapert is returning to co-produce along with Raimi and Campbell.[30] So far one season of Ash vs. Evil Dead consisting of 10 episodes (30 minutes each) have been ordered by Starz.[31][32] On February 11, 2015, Ray Santiago and Dana Delorenzo were cast in the roles of Pablo Simon Bolivar, an idealistic immigrant who becomes Ash’s loyal sidekick – a Sancho Panza to Ash’s Don Quixote. Pablo believes in Ash’s heroism even if Ash himself doesn’t and Kelly Maxwell, a moody wild child trying to outrun her past. Reluctantly dragged into the fight against Evil with Ash and Pablo, Kelly finds a different kind of family with her fellow Deadite slayers. The series details reads "Campbell reprises his role as Ash, the aging lothario and chainsaw-handed monster hunter who has spent the last 30 years avoiding responsibility, maturity and the terrors of the Evil Dead. When a Deadite plague threatens to destroy all of mankind, Ash is finally forced to face his demons – personal and literal."[33][34] The series is set to start filming in the spring of 2015 in New Zealand.[35] The pilot episode of the Series was written by Ivan Raimi, Craig DiGregorio and Tom Spezialy, it is set with Sam Raimi to direct.[36] In February 2015 Starz confirmed that Jill Marie Jones will playing the leading role Michigan State Trooper Amanda Fisher.[37]

In 2004, Dynamite Entertainment acquired the license to publish titles based on Army of Darkness and, in conjunction with Devil's Due Publishing, released the Army of Darkness: Ashes 2 Ashes mini-series. A second mini-series, Army of Darkness: Shop till You Drop Dead followed in 2005. Later that year, Dynamite separated itself from Devil's Due and began focusing entirely on self-published titles featuring the Army of Darkness franchise. This included an ongoing series that began in 2005 and saw Ash battling other horror icon such as Herbert West and Dracula. The series lasted thirteen issues before being rebooted with a second volume in 2007. The second series lasted twenty-seven issues before coming to an end. Over the years, there have also been several one-shot specials as well as crossovers with a wide variety of characters such as, Marvel Zombies, Darkman, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Xena, Danger Girl and even Barack Obama. The series was then rebooted in 2013 and started over from the last scene in Army Of Darkness the film, because ash mispoke the words S-Mart was sent back in time to the Medieval times where the wiseman has been possessed, ash fights through many battles with the same characters from the film. At the end of this series ash proposes to Sheila, in the next series "Ash gets hitched" they get married but Ash gets sent forward in time when he accidentally speaks a phrase that opens up a vortex. He wants to get back to Sheila but runs into many situations causing delays, he is currently in space fighting the evil.

The production team of George Reinblatt, Christopher Bond and Frank Cipolla recently created an Off Broadway show titled Evil Dead: The Musical, based on the film series. Its New York run was directed by Bond and Hinton Battle, who also choreographed the show. Ryan Ward played the part of Ash. Tying in with the midnight movie plot of a group of friends visiting a wooded cabin and unleashing untold evil, performances did not start until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Previews began October 1 and the show opened November 1 at the New World Stages. It was announced on January 31, 2007 that Evil Dead: The Musical's New York production at New World Stages would close on February 17, 2007. Toronto producers announced a new Toronto production of the show, also starring Ryan Ward, at the Diesel Playhouse. The new production started its running May 1, 2007 and has been announced to end on September 8, 2007.[when?]